Reflection for June 8, Monday; Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

                                                           

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you

and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

for your reward will be great in heaven.

Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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Reflection:

A man thought that he could find his happiness in this world so he went after the things of this world. Only to find out later that worldly happiness was not the key to real happiness.

Jesus in our gospel gives us the eight Beatitudes, what is the meaning of beatitude? It means happiness, not according to the definition of this world. But happiness according to the interpretation of Jesus.

How do we interpret happiness? Do we interpret it according to the standards of this world? For example, many of us have this mindset of finding happiness in the accumulation of money, power and having everything that this world can offer. But these are not the key to real happiness.

Let us seek our happiness and fulfilment in Jesus and according to the eight beatitudes which He gave us and we will surely find it. For Jesus has not refused anyone who seek to find his/her happiness in Him and His teachings.  

Let us try to reflect on these pronouncements of Jesus about the beatitudes. For in Jesus and His beatitudes we will find real happiness. Where does our happiness lies right now?  – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 8, Lunes; Ika Sampung Linggo ng Taon: Mateo 5:1-12

Mabuting Balita: Mateo 5:1-12

1 Nang makita ni Jesus ang makapal na tao, umahon siya sa bundok. Naupo siya roon at lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang mga alagad. 2 At nag­simula siyang magturo sa kanila:

3 “Mapapalad ang mga may diwa ng dukha sapagkat sa kanila ang Kaha­rian ng Langit.

4 Mapapalad ang mga nagluluksa sapagkat pagiginhawahin sila.

5 Mapapalad ang mga di-marahas sa­pagkat mapapasakanila ang lupain.

6 Mapapalad ang mga nagugutom at nauuhaw sa katarungan sapagkat bubu­sugin sila.

7 Mapapalad ang mga maawain sapagkat kaaawaan sila.

8 Mapapalad ang mga may busilak na puso sapagkat makikita nila ang Diyos.

9 Mapapalad ang mga nagpupun­yagi para sa kapayapaan sapagkat tatawagin silang mga anak ng Diyos.

10 Mapapalad ang mga pinag-uusig dahil sa katarungan sapagkat kanila ang Kaharian ng Langit.

11 Mapapalad kayo kung iniinsulto kayo at pinag-uusig at sinisiraang-puri dahil sa akin. 12 Magsaya kayo at maga­lak sa­pagkat malaki ang gantim­palang nasa Diyos para sa inyo. Ganito rin pinag-usig ang mga propetang nauna sa inyo.

 Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for Sunday June 7, Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: John 3:16-18

Gospel: John 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

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Reflection:

Can we fathom the mystery of the Blessed Trinity? No we cannot it is beyond our human understanding to comprehend the mystery of the three persons in one God.

As we journey with our Catholic faith we will be introduced to mysterious dogmas/doctrines such as the Blessed Trinity. No matter how hard we try to understand it we will not be able to understand it. We simply have to believe it and this is part of the mystery of our catholic faith. That’s why for us to further grow in our catholic faith we must always journey with our faith and not with our sight.

The Blessed Trinity is the mysterious fusion of God the Father, the creator (Genesis 1:31-2:4), God the Son that is Jesus (Luke 3:22) and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). What is the binding agent that mysteriously put together these three persons to become one God? It’s their selfless love for each other. The Holy Trinity is also the best model of humility for the reason that there’s no ego amongst them, this is primarily the reason why they were able to fuse and love flawlessly.

The challenge before us is this: We must exercise love towards our fellowmen as the Three Divine Persons in one God exercised love for us and amongst themselves. We must be humble and loving as the Three Divine persons in one God are humble and loving. Do we love as the Holy Trinity exercised love? Do we have humility like the humility of the Holy Trinity?

The gospel talks about the love of God for all of humanity. God sent His only begotten Son to save humanity in exchange for what? God asks us nothing in exchange except that we believe in His beloved Son Jesus. And the moment we believe in Jesus we are already saved. This is another mystery of our Catholic faith that we have to embrace with faith.

Why are we already saved the moment we believe in the Lord? Because the beginning of our salvation starts also when we begin to believe in Jesus. Do we believe in Jesus and do we accept Him as our Lord and Savior? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Linggo Hunyo 7, Banal na Santatlo (Dakilang Kapistahan) Juan 3:16-18

Mabuting Balita: Juan 3:16-18

Sinabi ni Jesus kay Nicodemo 16 Ganito nga kamahal ng Diyos ang mundo! Kayat ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na anak upang hindi na ma­wala ang bawat nananalig sa kanya kundi magkaroon ng buhay magpa­kailanman.

17 Hindi nga sinugo ng Diyos sa mundo ang Anak upang hukuman ang mundo kundi upang maligtas ang mundo sa pamamagitan niya. 18 Hindi hinuhukuman ang nananalig sa kanya. Ngunit hinu-kuman na ang hindi nana­nalig pagkat hindi siya nananalig sa Ngalan ng bugtong na Anak ng Diyos.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 6, Saturday; Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:38-44

Gospel: Mark 12:38-44

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a rich man that suddenly died, when he was about to enter the heavenly gates. Jesus appeared before him and told him, you’re not destined to be here. The rich man said to Jesus, why my Lord? I regularly gave large amount of money to the church! I built many churches during my lifetime! I gave to the poor! The Lord said to him, Yes you did all of those things but you did it so that you would be praised and hailed as generous.   

In giving to the church or giving in general the best way to do it is to give from the heart and to give without anybody knowing it. We do not give out of our surplus and we don’t give because we want others to admire and praise us.

The rich and powerful in our gospel who gave large amount of money to the treasury seems to be generous on the surface. But they are not for the reason that they gave from their surplus wealth or wealth that is not useful to them anymore.

In contrast here is a poor and powerless widow who gave two small coins worth a few cents (Mark 12:42). This poor but truly generous widow gained the admiration of Jesus since she gave from her heart. The widow gave it all, no pretensions and no desire for earthly praise whatsoever.

When we give to the church and when we give in general, let us give from our hearts. Let us not publicize our generosity and let us not seek praise and admiration in our giving. Let us also not count the cost of giving because what we give comes back to us in so many ways.

When we are truly generous, we will not run out of things to give. In fact the more that we are truly generous the more that we would receive blessing from God. The more that we forget ourselves and our own needs for the welfare and need of others the more that Jesus would bless us. - Marino J. Dasmarinas     

1Reflection for June 5, Friday; Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr: Mark 12:35-37

Gospel: Mark 12:35-37

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my lord,‘Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.’ David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?”The great crowd heard this with delight.

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Reflection:

Son of David, Messiah and Christ these three names have a common denominator one way or the other it means Savior. And who else is this savior? It’s none other than Jesus but unlike our common notion of a savior who comes in with swashbuckling powers ala avengers. Jesus our savior has none of their powers.

His power is derived in His being powerless and His heroic action is not shown with swaggering super human exploits. It is rather shown in his humility and self-sacrifice. Let us reflect and ponder on the powerless Jesus on the cross and let us discover His power underneath it. 

During the time of Jesus, the scribes were Jewish scholars and teachers of the law they didn’t believe that Jesus was both human and divine. To them Jesus was only human and as they claim the human Jesus is the Son of David or descendant of King David.

But David inspired by the Holy Spirit called Him Lord, Jesus was indirectly telling the Jews that if David called Him Lord. Then they should also believe in Him as the Son of God not as a son of David.

There are many more who are not fully aware of Jesus’ humanity and divinity: we are therefore being challenged by the Lord to help Him spread the gospel. Would we help the Lord spread the gospel? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 5, Biyernes; San Bonifacio, obispo at martir : Marcos 12:35-37

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:35-37

35 Sa pagtuturo ni Jesus sa Templo, sinabi niya: “Ano’t sinasabi ng mga guro ng Batas na anak ni David ang Mesiyas? 36 Sinabi nga ni David nang kasihan siya ng Espiritu Santo: ‘Ang sabi ng Pa­ngi­noon sa aking Pangi­noon: Umupo sa aking kanan hang­gang ilagay ko ang iyong mga kaaway sa ilalim ng iyong mga paa.’

37 Kung tinatawag siya ni David mismo na Panginoon, puwede bang anak siya ni David?” Nasisiyahan ang bayan sa pakikinig sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 4, Thursday; the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:28-34

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

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Reflection:

Long time ago in a certain neighborhood there was a family who would always go to church to worship God. They never miss to attend Sunday Mass and they regularly give to their church. Thus they were greatly admired by their church community.

But upon going home they belittle and berate their maids when they commit mistakes. They also look down on their poor neighbors because they are too rich and educated.

What is the best expression of our love for God? It’s to love our fellowmen and women no matter who they are, no matter if they are rich or poor and no matter if they've done us good  or not. This is the best expression of our love for God: To love our fellowmen without any discrimination.

How can the love of God be with us and how can we say that we love God if we look down on the poor and downtrodden?  If we only love those who are lovable to our eyes? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 4, Huwebes; Ikasiyam na Linggo ng Taon: Marcos 12:28-34

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:28-34

28 May isang guro ng Batas na na­ka­­rinig sa pagtatalo nila. Nang mapansin niyang tama ang sagot ni Jesus sa mga Sadduseo, lumapit siya at nagta­nong kay Jesus: “Ano ang una sa lahat ng utos?” 29 Sumagot si Jesus na “Ito ang una: Makinig nawa, O Israel! Iisa lang ang Panginoong ating Diyos. 30 At mamahalin mo ang Panginoon mong Diyos nang buo mong puso, nang buo mong kalu­luwa, nang buo mong pag-iisip at nang buo mong lakas.

                                    

31At pangalawa naman ito: Mamahalin mo ang iyong kapwa gaya ng iyong sarili. Wala nang utos na mas mahalaga pa kaysa mga ito.” 32 Kaya sinabi ng guro ng Batas: “Mabuti, Guro, totoo ang sinabi mong isa Siya at wala na maliban sa kanya. 33 At ang mahalin siya nang buong puso at nang buong kaluluwa at nang buong lakas, at mahalin din ang kapwa gaya ng sarili ay mas mahalaga kaysa mga sinu­nog na handog at mga alay.”

34 Nakita ni Jesus na tama ang sinabi nito kaya sinabi niya: “Hindi ka malayo sa kaharian ng Diyos.” At wala nang nanga­has magtanong sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

1Reflection for June 3, Wednesday; Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs: Mark 12:18-27

Gospel: Mark 12:18-27

Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and put this question to him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. So the second brother married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. At the resurrection when they arise whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled.”

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Reflection:

Is there an afterlife or resurrection after our life in this world is over? There is but it's very different from the life that we have right now.

In the gospel a religious group who do not believe in the resurrection asked Jesus about a woman who married seven brothers that subsequently died one after the other. They asked Jesus, whose wife would she be in the afterlife?

 Jesus said to them, "Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven.

The resurrected life with Jesus in heaven is totally different from the life that we have right now. If here we have pains and sorrows there shall be no more there, what we will have there is a life with Jesus that is blissful and heavenly. We must aspire for that heavenly life and we must start right now by following the teachings of Jesus.

Do we follow the teachings of the Lord? – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 3, Miyerkules; San Carlos Lwanga at mga Kasama mga Martir: Marcos 12:18-27

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:18-27

18 Lumapit naman kay Jesus ang mga Sadduseo. Sinasabi ng mga ito na walang pagkabuhay na muli, kaya nag­tanong sila: 19 “Guro, isinulat ni Moises para sa amin: ‘Kung may mga magka­kapatid na lalaki at mamatay na wa­lang anak ang isa sa kanila, kaila­ngang kunin ng kanyang kapatid ang kanyang asawa upang magpasibol ng sup­ling sa kanyang kapatid.’ 20 Nga­yon, may pitong magka­kapatid. Nag-asawa ang panganay at namatay na walang anak. 21Kaya kinuha ng ika­lawa ang kanyang asawa, at namatay ring wa­lang anak. Ganito rin ang nangyari sa pangatlo. 22 Silang pito nga ay na­ma­tay nang hindi nagkaanak. At sa huli’y na­matay din ang babae. 23 Nga­yon, sa muling pagkabuhay, kung mabu­buhay silang muli, kanino sa pito siya magiging asawa? Ang pito nga ang umangkin sa kanya.”

24 Sumagot si Jesus: “Di kaya bunga ng di ninyo pagkaunawa sa Kasulatan at sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos ang inyong pag­kakamali? 25 Sa muling pagkabuhay nga nila, hindi na mag-aasawa ang lalaki o babae kundi para na silang mga anghel sa Langit.

26 At tungkol naman sa mga patay at sa muling pagkabuhay, hindi ba ninyo inu­nawa ang sinabi sa inyo ng Diyos sa aklat ni Moises, sa kabanata ng palum­pong: Ako ang Diyos ni Abraham, ang Diyos ni Isaac at ang Diyos ni Jacob? 27 Hindi siya Diyos ng mga patay kundi ng mga buhay. Maling-mali kayo.”

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 2, Tuesday; the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 12:13-17

Gospel: Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at. They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this? They replied to him, “Caesar’s. So Jesus said to them “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. They were utterly amazed at him.

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Reflection:

Do we always do what is right and just? The Pharisees and the Herodians were testing Jesus about the just payment of tax to Caesar. Jesus knew about their evil scheming so He simply told them, “Whose image is in the coin?” And they told Jesus that it was Caesar’s image that is imprinted on the coin.

Thus, Jesus told them that they should pay to Caesar for the simple reason that he is the governing authority. And then Jesus told them to give to God what belongs to God (Mark 12:17).

The million dollar question now is, what belongs to God or what is for God? What belongs to God that we must give Him is the time that we have to freely give Him. Such as our daily time for prayer: upon waking up in the morning and before retiring at night.

The weekly time that we have to freely give Him during Sundays at Holy Mass. And other forms of worship and service to our church these we have to give to God as well.

Then we may ask, what then would we receive in giving God what is due to God? We will receive peace of mind and we will be in heaven when our journey in this world comes to end. -  Marino J. Dasmarinas 

Ang Mabuting Balita para sa Hunyo 2, Martes; Ikasiyam na Linggo ng Taon: Marcos 12:13-17

Mabuting Balita: Marcos 12:13-17

13 Gusto nilang hulihin si Jesus sa sarili niyang mga salita. Kaya pina­punta kay Jesus ang ilan sa mga Pariseo kasama ng mga kampi kay Herodes. 14 Nila­pitan nila siya at sinabi: “Guro, nalalaman naming tapat ka at hindi napadadala sa iba. Hindi ka nag­sasalita ayon sa kala­gayan ng tao kundi tunay na itinu­turo ang daan ng Diyos. Kaya ayon ba sa Batas na magbayad ng bu­wis sa Cesar?”

15 Nang makita ni Jesus ang kani­lang pagkukunwari, sinabi niya sa kanila: “Bakit ninyo ako sinusubok? Akin na ang isang denaryo.” 16 Iniabot nila sa kanya ang isang denaryo at sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus: “Sino ang naka­­larawan dito, na na­rito rin ang kanyang pa­ngalan?” Suma­got sila: “Ang Cesar.” 17 At sinabi niya sa ka­nila: “Ibigay nga sa Cesar ang para sa Cesar, at sa Diyos ang para sa Diyos.” Lubha silang namangha sa kanya.

Ang Mabuting Balita ng Panginoon.

Reflection for June 1, Monday; Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church: John 19:25-34

Gospel: John 19:25-34

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”  There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first     and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.

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Reflection:

Can we comprehend the pain of Mary looking up to her son dying on the cross? Mary went through this painful episode of her motherhood with dignity. Whatever sorrow that she was feeling around that time she kept it as much as possible within her.

She suffered in silence and in her suffering she surrendered everything to God. Mary knew deep in her heart that this was the plan of God for her son and for her as well. Mary trusted the will of God and surrendered everything to God.

Jesus suffering and death on the cross of Calvary was not in vain it was with a purpose and that is for the salvation of humanity. As we live in this world we too will go through suffering and there would be instances that it will be very hard for us to accept this suffering/s.

But if Jesus suffered and if Mary was pained seeing her son die a brutal death who are we not to experience sufferings and pains? Life is never complete without sufferings and pains. We have to go through these experiences for us to live a complete and meaningful life in this world.

We have to go through these episodes so that we would have an awareness of the presence of God in our life. – Marino J. Dasmarinas